roast my own coffee

Did my first three very small batches (100g each) these last weeks. First two were roasted with a hot air gun in a pot, third today in an oven.
Impressions:
1st batch: took half an eternity to get them dark, switched the hot air gun up one power level and blew from very close -> beans were roasted to quickly – beans smelled really nice after letting them sit for a day or so but coffee tasted a bit flat although not bad (if a bit “roasted” – no pun intended)

2nd: beans were roasted a bit more evenly, taste still ok, not heavenly

3rd (in the oven): beans were roasted above where the heating bars / pipes whatever of the oven were, middle of the pan was just a bit roasted – removed the darker ones and moved the brighter ones from the middle to above the heat pipes – look ok now – coffee still to be tested

How do you distinguish the 1st from the 2nd crack, to me they sound pretty much the same and they mix so no intermittend period of silent roasting -> hard to tell the when I’ve reached my desired Full City+ roast (http://www.sweetmarias.com/roasting-VisualGuideV2.html). Any suggestions or tips on the cracks?

I’ve started roasting. Just frypan and a camp stove, but it works. I totally burnt my first batch… by the fifth try I started to get the heat regulated. its some of the worst/best coffee I ever tasted as I work on the technique.

How does someone become a roastmaster? I can’t seem to find out. What kind of qualifications do you need to get?

There are plenty of good links listed here, I just need to find the time and get a roaster and some beans!

I’ve only done this a few times with an old popcorn maker, but it works and produces decent results.

Only place I know of in Boston to get freshly roasted coffee is JPLick in JP.

With a hot air popcorn popper: http://www.ineedcoffee.com/99/04/homeroast/

In the oven: http://www.ineedcoffee.com/05/beans/

Sweet Maria’s coffee roasting basics: http://www.sweetmarias.com/instructions.html

thedailychannel’s “How to Roast Coffee”: http://www.thedailychannel.com/adventure/roasting.html

Choosing green coffee beans: http://www.lucidcafe.com/homeroast4.html

Seven Bridges Cooperative (a source for organic, fair trade green coffee beans): http://www.breworganic.com/Coffee/Green_coffee.htm

(And Sweet Maria’s has tons of green coffee beans, too.)

Homeroasters Association: http://www.homeroasters.org/

This has been something I’ve wanted to do for about a year now. I did all kinds of research on how to do it and what it involves. The only thing holding me back is going out and buying a roaster. Money is a little tight right now, but as soon as I get some cash I’m looking forward to the rewarding taste of my first completely self-made cup of coffee.

I picked up a West Bend Poppery II from goodwill for $6, Some green beans from www.sweetmarias.com and used their directions on how to roast. It turned out good the first time.

Best coffee ever. I buy “cherries” from all over the world and roast them in a bean roaster. Its less expensive than Starbucks and makes the BEST cup of Java anywhere!
www.sweetmarias.com is where I bought all my supplies (roaster/beans etc) from-I highly recoemmend it.

Years ago I used to be much more passionate about my coffee, and had the spare time to do something about it. I would buy my beans green from the shop (had to find these days) and when people came around for coffee I would roast them (either in the oven, or in a hot-air roaster that I acquired) and grind them in a hand-cranked grinder. Raw beans to cappucino in under 20 minutes. Divine.

These days, I just take what I can get from the local coffee stall (but refuse to drink Starbucks).